Dissatisfaction With Consumer Service

Press, Volume C, Issue 29653, 25 October 1961, Page 16

Dissatisfaction With Consumer Service

(New Zealand Preu Association)

WELLINGTON, October 24. “Excessive frustration has faced the committee of the Consumer Association of Wellington,” said the retiring chairman (Mr H. J. Allen) at. the association's annual meeting tonight. Dissatisfaction with the present “top-heavy” triple set-up of head office, district committee and local association, and the minor role and lack of voice assigned to the association, were matters aired at the meeting. Letters from the Auckland and Dunedin associations, which were read to the meeting, supported the Wellington association in its views, said Mr Allen.

If the present top-heavy and undemocratic structure was to be put on a sound and practical foundation. the whole organisation and interrelation between association district committees and the Consumer Service would need to be reviewed. The deletion of the prerequisite of membership of the Consumer Service —subecription to the movement’s magazine—or, alternatively, an allembracing fee to the service, from which a capitation grant could be made to the appropriate association, would appear to provide an answer to the major problems, Mr Allen said. Associations could provide

a worth-while avenue for expressing public opinion and many aspects of consequent concern. Mr Alien said hit own opinion of the Conaumer Council was that it was a law unto itself.